A record 79 countries have already entered the event, which is due to be held in Holyrood Park on March 30.

 

The Championships have a history dating back to Hamilton in Scotland in 1903, but which first came under the banner of the World Cross Country Championships as an official International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) event in 1973.

 

The previous record number of countries to participate in the event was 76 in Vilamoura, Portugal, eight years ago.

 

It will be the sixth time Britain has staged the World Cross Country Championships.

 

The last occasion was in Belfast in 1999.

 

Holyrood Park has already successfully hosted the European Cross Country Championships in 2003, and has been the venue for many editions of the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country Race, which is an IAAF cross country permit meeting.

 

Edinburgh 2008 venues manager Gavin Lightwood said: "It is very pleasing to have surpassed the previous best at this point, but with a significant number of nations with less than three athletes taking part, our challenge now is to liase with the IAAF to set ourselves up for more than 76 on the start line.

 

"It is also great for the supporting adopt-a-nation programme to have such a variety of countries here.

 

"There has been an LOC fascination with Micronesia in the South Pacific since the bid stage and they will be represented by Nauru, whose athlete will be taken under the wing of the East Kilbride Tartan Army for the week leading up to the race."

Paul Bush, chief operating Officer of EventScotland, the national events agency, said: "This is really good news for Edinburgh and the Championships.

 

"Excitement is building towards what we hope will be the best World Cross Country Championships ever held, and the news that we're on track to surpass the record number of countries entered at this stage is a great boost for all those involved in helping deliver this event."